Lot Essay
This manuscript tells the tale of a war between the cats and the mice. Persecuted by the cats, the mice attempt to appease their enemy by making offerings to the cat ruler. When their ambassadors are attacked and killed, the mice army sets forth on horseback and with elephants. The mice are victorious in battle and the cat king is captured and executed. This very charming manuscript is notable for the number of miniatures used to illustrate this tale. Two other copies are in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. (Catalogue of the Persian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Part 1, nos. 797 and 799). Another copy of the text was sold in these Rooms, 15 October 2002, lot 189.